Obituary: Billy HelmsCLARKSVILLE — Billy Joe Helms, passed away Sunday, July 23, 2017, at his residence. He was born May 2, 1938 at Helena. Billy was married to the love of his life, Martha Deiss on Sept. 27, 1958 in Helena. He and Martha were childhood sweethearts. They enjoyed time with family and sporting events. Billy was preceded in death by his parents P.H. and Mary Helms, mother Betty and Dick Burns and one brother James Helms. Survivors include his wife Ma...

Obituary: Adam WillfondATKINS — Adam Willfond, 37, of Atkins, passed away Saturday, July 22, 2017, at UAMS Medical Center in Little Rock. He was born May 24, 1980, in Russellville. He was a coon hunter, baseball coach and mentor to many young athletes. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Melvin and Cathleen Willfond and a nephew, Brendon Willfond. He is survived by his wife, Kayla Willfond; two sons, Lucas and Cash Willfond; father, Charles Willfond of Atk...

Obituary: Joseph HlassJoseph Stephen Hlass died peacefully at his home in Russellville on July 24, 2017, surrounded by loved ones. He was born on Feb. 2, 1922, in Russellville, to Stephen and Francis Barborek Hlass. He was ready to be with his Heavenly Father and loved ones who’d gone on before him. In his own words, Joe was “ready for anything.” When one of his daughters asked him if he knew how much he was loved, Joe said, “All there is.” In addition to his paren...

Clarksville OKs science purchaseCLARKSVILLE — The Clarksville School Board met last week and approved several items. The board approved the purchase of science material in the amount of $34,280 from Educators Book Depository of Arkansas, Inc. Other items approved included: • The Migrant Grant in the amount of $154,897; • The renewal of the Arkansas School Board Association membership; and • The Ethics Resolutions Act 1381. Per recommendations by Superintendent Dr. David Hopk...

Johnson Quorum Court OKs fund appropriationsCLARKSVILLE — The Johnson County Quorum Court met earlier this month and heard an update to a building that will house the assessor’s new office and appropriated funds. Johnson County Judge Herman Houston said they are hoping the remodeling project to a building previously purchased to house the new assessor’s office will be completed by late fall. “The carpentry work is finished,” Houston said. “Now the phone system and computer system is bei...

Hot Springs shows support for medical marijuana enterprisesHOT SPRINGS— A central Arkansas city has approved a resolution that supports medical marijuana enterprises in the area. The Sentinel-Record (http://bit.ly/2tjZjF3 ) reports the Hot Springs Board of Directors unanimously adopted the resolution Tuesday after imposing a moratorium last month. The ban that was lifted last week halted medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation facilities from receiving licenses and permits. The board also amend...

Former Arkansas Senate president released from prisonJONESBORO — A former Arkansas Senate president who admitted spending more than $150,000 of campaign funds on personal items has been released from federal prison. The Jonesboro Sun reports (http://bit.ly/2uPhhUv ) that former Sen. Paul Bookout was released from federal prison earlier this month and will complete the remainder of his sentence at his home in Jonesboro. Bookout pleaded guilty to one count of federal mail fraud and was sentenced t...

No Russia collusion, Trump son-in-law Kushner tells CongressWASHINGTON — Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner denied Monday that he colluded with Russians in the course of President Donald Trump's White House bid and declared he has "nothing to hide." Behind closed doors, Kushner spoke to staff members of the Senate intelligence committee for nearly three hours at the Capitol, then made a brief public statement back at the White House. "Let me be very clear," he said. "I did not collude with Russia...

Arkansas sheriff's office spends $19k on body camerasJONESBORO— A sheriff's office in northeastern Arkansas is equipping deputies with body cameras to promote transparency and accountability. The Jonesboro Sun (http://bit.ly/2txaWwC ) reports the Craighead County Sheriff's Office has purchased more than 40 cameras for $19,000. Chief Deputy Rick Thomas says the sheriff's office is currently training all road deputies and court bailiffs how to use the cameras. He says the footage will help the dep...

Burr-Hamilton? Angry lawmaker singles out 'female senators'WASHINGTON— Passions are running high on Capitol Hill — but pistols at 10 paces over health care? GOP Rep. Blake Farenthold of Texas is angry with some fellow Republicans in the Senate who are balking at parts of legislation to overturn "Obamacare." After GOP promises to repeal the law, that "is just repugnant to me," he says. Who's to blame? "Some of the people that are opposed to this, there are some female senators from the Northeast," Fare...

Mother of boy who died after hours in hot van sues day careWEST MEMPHIS — An Arkansas mother whose 5-year-old son died after being left in a day care van for almost nine hours in hot weather is suing the facility. In the civil lawsuit filed Thursday, Ashley Smith says Ascent Children's Health Services failed to provide adequate care for her son. The suit says the day care was "indifferent in the recruitment, hiring, training, supervision, discipline of employees," and showed a "callous disregard." The...

St. Peter's Square fountains being shut off due to droughtVATICAN CITY — The Vatican says it is shutting off all its fountains, including those in St. Peter's Square, because of Italy's drought. Vatican Radio on Monday said the decision is linked with Pope Francis' teachings on the environment. The pope has decried wasteful practices and praised clean drinking water as vital for both people and the environment. Meteorologists say spring 2017 was Italy's third-driest in some 60 years. The drought has ...

Data breach has Arkansas seeking new vendorLITTLE ROCK — Arkansas is seeking someone else to provide database services after a breach during the spring impacted 600,000 of the state's residents. America's Job Link Alliance-TS has held a contract with the state since 2007. In March, it told the Department of Workforce Services that records of at least 19,000 state job applicants had been compromised, but what was taken wasn't immediately known. Agency spokesman Steven Guntharp says Work...

Russellville School District 2017-2018 Registration InformationMonday, Aug. 14, 2017, is the first day of school for Pre-K – 12th grade. Students who attended school in the Russellville School District last year are pre-registered. Elementary (Kindergarten through 4th Grade) All students attending Russellville schools in kindergarten through fourth-grade who are new to the district should register as soon as possible beginning Monday, July 24. Elementary students should register at the school in their zon...

Enrollment down in Arkansas' expanded Medicaid planLITTLE ROCK — The number of people enrolled in Arkansas' expanded Medicaid program was down by 8,000 in June, likely because of efforts to end coverage for people who are no longer eligible for services. The Department of Human Services told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that the average cost for services during the month fell to $502.52 per person — down $24. Agency spokeswoman Brandi Hinkle says DHS is continuing efforts to end coverage for ...

Promising 'A Better Deal,' Democrats try to rebrand partyBERRYVILLE, Va. — Promising "A Better Deal" for American workers, Democratic Party leaders rolled out a new agenda with a populist pitch on Monday as they sought to bounce back from their losses in November and look ahead to the 2018 midterms. They left the Beltway for small-town Berryville, Virginia, in an attempt to appeal to the working-class voters that Donald Trump appealed to last November and Democrats hope to win back. "Too many Americ...

Arkansas police seek car in slaying of man in Little RockLITTLE ROCK — Police are searching for a car described as stolen in connection with the shooting death of a man in Little Rock this month. Officer Steve Moore says in a news release Monday that police are searching for a black, 2006 Mercedes E-350 with a Texas license plate in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Samuel "Chris" Moore. Police do not identify the suspects in the shooting, but say the occupants of the car should be considered armed ...

Obituary:Gloria RobertsGloria May Roberts, 85, of Magnolia, passed away Sunday, July 16, 2017, at her home with her loved ones by her side. Gloria was born May 9, 1932, in Greenfield, Tenn., to Mary Lee (Cox) Hall. Gloria enjoyed reading, growing plants, needle point and watching television. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She is preceded in death by her mother, her husband, Lewis Roberts, and two daughters, Mary Catherine Fultz and...

Obituary: John MajorwitzJohn Joseph Majorwitz, 90, of Lamar, passed away Thursday, July 20, 2017, in Russellville, with his loved ones by his side. John was born Oct. 13, 1926, in Fairbanks Texas, to John Paul and Pauline Majorwitz. John served our country during World War II. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Jerlene Majorwitz, daughter Gloria Lovell and grandson Dowin Beavers III. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday, July 24, 2017, at the Roller-Cox ...

Obituary: Bonnie JamellBonnie Jean Jamell, age 92, of Russellville, died on Friday, July 21, 2017. She was born on Aug. 11, 1924, in Buttermilk, to Walter Ezekiel and Amy Ethel Patterson Andrews. She was a member of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church and a Golden Patron of the Cumberland Presbyterian Women. She was a lifetime PTA member. She retired from JC Penney and was a Realtor. She was an original “Rosie the Riveter” in World War ll. In addition to her parent...